It may still be only early in the summer but already a battle is brewing between the champion, Michael Kinane, and the young pretender, Pat Smullen, for the jockeys' title.
Smullen is just one ahead of Kinane on the 24 mark, but already the two riders are stretching clear of third-placed Johnny Murtagh (14), and it's worth betting the trio will be the main players at Fairyhouse's eight-race fixture this evening.
Each of the three can be on the mark, but it's Smullen that rides the most interesting proposition in the shape of Gold Chaser in the Garristown Handicap.
The Weld-trained horse is an infrequent but useful performer. He hasn't run since a sauntering victory at Leopardstown last September, but it had been 13 months since he'd run before that and then he'd reaped profitable victories at the Dublin track again and Galway.
The reports of Gold Chaser are encourging and even with 9.12 on his back, he could be in a different league to these.
Kinane can have got his retaliation in first, however, courtesy of the Ballydoyle newcomer Bonnard in the six furlong maiden. Aidan O'Brien's two-year-olds are really firing now and there are few better bred than Bonnard, who is by Nureyev out of a Mr Prospector mare.
Murtagh's winner could be Certain Charm in the 12 furlong maiden, although Rumson Way may emerge as a real danger. But the nap goes to a Kinane mount, Impulsif, in the Monard Handicap.
Liam Browne's mare was a little inconsistent last season but scored twice over the course and distance, including winning this same race.
That came off a mark of 37, but by the autumn she had improved to win impressively off 46 and is just 2lb higher now. She had two runs before this day last season when ridden by an apprentice, and then had Jamie Spencer on board when winning .
On Impulsif's first start over six furlongs at the Curragh this term, the same apprentice was in the plate and she is now replaced by Kinane. The patterns suggest an Implsif victory.
David Loder celebrated his first juvenile success of the season with the Godolphin runner, Noverre, in the Prix d'Orgemont at Chantilly yesterday. Despite showing obvious signs of greeness by wandering about, the 2 to 1 on shot held on to beat Moisuisatoi by a short neck.
Holding Court, the impressive winner of the Prix la Force, will be supplemented for the Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) tomorrow at a cost of Stg£24,000.
